MANILA, Philippines – Nine out of 10 Filipinos trust President Duterte, according to the Pulse Asia survey taken just days after he took his oath of office on June 30.

The Pulse Asia’s Ulat ng Bayan nationwide survey found 91 percent of Filipinos saying they have “big trust” in the President, while practically no one (0.2 percent) distrusts him.

The remaining eight percent of respondents could not say if they trust or distrust Duterte.

The President recorded majority trust ratings in every geographical area (89 to 97 percent) and socioeconomic class (89 to 92 percent).

He received trust scores of 97 in his home region Mindanao, 92 percent in Metro Manila and 89 percent each in balance Luzon and the Visayas.

He obtained high trust scores among those in class D and E, both at 92 percent.

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Duterte’s trust rating was higher than that of his immediate predecessor Benigno Aquino III, who received a trust score of 85 percent and two percent distrust in Pulse Asia’s July 1-11, 2010 poll.

The survey was conducted from July 2 to 8, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above. It has a plus or minus three percentage points margin of error at the 95 percent confidence level.

Malacañang welcomed the high trust rating of the President.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the high level of trust given by the Filipinos to the President would serve as an inspiration to the Duterte administration to pursue its promises.

“This record-high trust rating of 91 percent is a humbling reminder that the genuine and meaningful change that our people aspire for is now being felt,” Andanar said yesterday.

“We thank the Filipino people for their overwhelming support to the governance of President Rodrigo Duterte,” he added.

“We are overwhelmed by the support from our fellow Filipinos. From one percent (awareness rating) in the pre-election surveys to 35.1 percent – and now, a trust rating of 62 percent,” she sad.

Robredo also called on Filipinos to work together toward a unified country that continues to move toward development and peace.

Meanwhile, 35 percent of Filipinos expressed trust in Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, and 19 percent said they have “small or no trust” in her.

Four in 10 Filipinos or 42 percent could not say if they trust or distrust the Chief Justice.

Top issues

Pulse Asia also polled the top issues Filipinos think the Duterte administration must address.

It showed that the top three concerns are controlling inflation (68 percent); creating employment opportunities (56 percent) and crafting new pro-poor programs (55 percent).

Almost half, or 48 percent, said the government must address criminality in the country; grant loans to small entrepreneurs and self-employed (23 percent); and prepare a program to address the government’s debt problem (17 percent).

Almost two in 10, or 17 percent, of Filipinos also think the government must continue the peace negotiations with different armed groups.

Less than 10 percent of respondents think the government should give priority to forging a government of national unity to reduce the level of political hostility (nine percent) and changing the 1987 Constitution (seven percent). – With Christina Mendez